Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1887-12-03
Il STATE CRIME.

resentatives in the Legislature to one
hundred and twenty-five. Under
the constitution, the basis Of repre-
sentation can be changed only once
each five years. Here are the words
Of the constitution on this point:
ga new apportionment shall be made
in the year 1866, and every five years
thereafter, based upon the census of the
preceding year."
The last apportionment was made
in 1886. Under the present consti-
tuition, another apportionment can
not be made until 1891. The first
legislature which can act under this
new apportionment will be elected
in 1892 and will assemble in 1893.
1t viii be seen that five years must
get elapse before the dozen or so
counties which have been organized
since the last apportionment can
have a constitutional representation
in the law-making body of the state.
When one hundred and twenty
five members were fixed as the limit
Of the house Of representatives, it
was not foreseen that there ever
would be failure in the adjustment
of new districts within that number.
Indeed, for some years after the de-
feet in the constitution became ap-
parent members in excess Of one
hundred and twenty-five were ad-
mitted as legal representatives. Some
six years ago the supreme court
rendered a decision which put a stop
to this.
Now, there is an easy way out Of
this difficulty. This is for the gov
ernor to convene the Legislature in ex-
ira session this winter, for the pur-
pose Of having that body submit to
the people, to be voted upon next No
vember, a proposed amendment to
the state constitution, having for its
object the recognition Of the right
Of every one Of these newly-organ-
lied counties to elect representative,
who can legally occupy seat in the
house Of representatives in the reg
ular Legislative session Of 1889.
This constitutional amendment
should also provide for the creation
of several new senatorial districts in
the western part Of the state. We
mean to be understood as asserting
that the population clearly entities
our people to this consideration.
The action which the WORLD rec
ommends will save to the people Of
our new counties four years Of wait
ing for representation in the legis-
lative halls. The state can not afford
to prolong it's crime against these
people. They are freemen. They
are taxpayers. They are, in point
of intelligence, the peers Of the best
people in Kansas. They have needs
whose qualification can be accom-
plished only through the channels Of
legislation. Their needs and desires
become sacred when placed in con-
tact with an unrepublican policy
which seeks to divest them Of certain
undisputed and indisputable rights.
Besides this, western Kansas, as a
whole, certainly is ready to rise as
one man, and demand the granting
Of this additional representation,
which, to it, constitutes such po-
tent factor in the legislation Of the
state for the next few years. The
method Of presenting this constitu-
tional amendment is, in the present
condition Of legislative apportion-
ment, not material. from our stand
point, beyond granting to the west
ern counties what is right-what
every well-meaning man comedies to
be clearly right-in the way of repre-
sentation. It is apparent on it's face,
and the apprentices becomes clearer
the further the subject is analysed,
that what the western counties gain
in the way Of representation should
be taken from the eastern and CEN
trail counties Of the state, because, If
this is not done, those sections will
still have a representation proper
tionately in excess Of that enjoyed
by the western counties; but we are
willing to waive this question. and
see the number Of legislative dis
tricts increased sufficiently to give
to each newly-organized county one
representative.
In the matter Of electing the new
representatives and senators, in the
case of the passage Of this amend
ment, the governor, we believe, would
have sufficient time to issue his proc
lamation for this purpose, so as to
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